Country music performer Billy Ray Cyrus, second from left, talks with members of the military before an NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. “Good guys win. Let’s do it 15 more times this year”.
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Then came the deep ball in the second half, with two attractive throws downfield.
To their credit, the Falcons didn’t quit in their final season opener at the Georgia Dome before moving next door to $1.4 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He had five catches for 80 yards, including a 59-yard catch that set up the Falcons first field goal.
A handful of defensive stops gave Atlanta hope in the fourth quarter after Bryant hit a 29-yard field goal to make it a one-possession game.
NOTES: Falcons starting DE Brooks Reed hurt a shoulder in the first quarter and had to be helped off again in the fourth. We got some penalties that we definitely need to do better on.
“You can’t say enough about Julio Jones and Matt Ryan, they’re great players, but you have to beat them as a team and that’s what we did”, said Buccaneers cornerback Brent Grimes. They managed only first down before the Bucs closed it out. Bucs reserve DE Jacquies Smith injured a knee early in the game and didn’t return.
Then it’s a trip to the Superdome to play the Saints on a Monday night that just so happens to be the 10-year anniversary of New Orleans’ first home game after Hurricane Katrina.
Though the pass rush looks a tad better under Quinn and defensive coordinator Richard Smith, the Falcons have to figure out a way to high-point balls better in the middle of the field.
In his National Football League debut, Hill caught one pass – good for a 9-yard touchdown – and returned three punts for 35 yards in the Chiefs’ comeback victory over the Chargers.
FALCONS FANTASY WATCH: Mohamed Sanu and Tevin Coleman are the complements to Jones and Freeman, respectively, in Atlanta’s offense.
Tampa Bay’s last winning season was 2010. He also caught a two-point conversion.
What’s a very bad sign is a rushing game that generated but 52 net yards, hardly the stuff of championship dreams.
The Bucs face a huge test in Arizona this Sunday as the Cards are looking to bounce back from a stunning and disappointing loss to the Brady-less Patriots. He racked up 95 yards on 5 catches, and showcased his improved hands that were so heavily advertised during the offseason.
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The Falcons will travel to the west coast to begin a hard stretch of their schedule, beginning with the Oakland Raiders.
